London: Labor MP Barry Gardiner, who was awarded the Padma Shri in January 2020, has been named by MI5 as an MP who received money from an alleged Chinese spy trying to destroy democratic processes in the UK Parliament.
Christine Ching Kui Took Gardiner’s office has long been financed through his law firm Christine Lee & Company, which has offices in London and Birmingham and also serves as chief legal advisor to the Chinese Embassy in London. Gardiner has also been employing Lee’s son, Daniel Wilkes, in his Westminster office, but Wilkes resigned on Thursday.
Gardiner represents Brent North, an area with a large Indian diaspora, and has been very popular with the Indian diaspora in Britain. He was awarded the Padma Shri in January 2020.
Britain’s security service MI5 issued a blistering warning to lawmakers on Thursday, saying that Chinese national Christine Ching cui li “Deliberately engaging in political interference activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China. Li has acted covertly in coordination with the UFWD and is presumed to have been involved in political interference activities in the UK”.
MI5 warned that the UFWD is trying to “secretly interfere in UK politics by establishing ties with established and aspiring parliamentarians across the political spectrum” to ensure that the UK political landscape is “consistent with the agenda of the CCP”. ” Is. The Mail said that Lee has been involved in “facilitating financial donations” to political parties, MPs and aspiring MPs, and individuals seeking political office in the UK.
This news has shocked the entire Indian community in Britain. There is no evidence that Gardiner knew she was a spy. Gardiner said in a statement: “I have been in contact with our security services for many years regarding Christine Lee and they have always been aware of her association with my office and the donations made to the fund, and I have been fully informed. Researchers in my office in the past. I have been assured by Security Services that although they have definitively identified inappropriate funding channeled through Christine Lee, it will be more than any funding received by my office Not related. Christine Lee’s son volunteered in my office for several years before and was later hired by me as a diary manager. He resigned from my employment earlier today.”
community leader Harendra Jodha Said: “These are legislators. Their staff should be properly screened because it is a matter of national security. Barry Gardiner must now come forward and tell all the facts. This is worrying because he was awarded the Padma Shri.” We need to know whether he was involved in policy-making with respect to India.”
Another source in the Indian community who knew Gardiner said: “When he was shadow secretary of state for international trade, he often traveled to China. He may have picked up on these contacts. Haven’t even gone to accept. Despite receiving Padma Shri he received letters requesting to accept. Government of India gave him Padma Shri for his work with Indian community and Gujarati community. Till now he has succumbed to covid citing refused to go to Delhi to accept it. The Indian government would not have known about this. If it is indeed true, that they had a Chinese agent working, then it has to do with their Indian community. There will be a detrimental effect on relations. There is a tense situation in India with China. If British parliamentarians with an Indian majority are close to the Chinese government, it is not welcome at all.”
Sir in the House of Commons on Thursday Ian Duncan SmithThe former leader of the Conservative Party said he had received an email from the speaker informing him that “an agent of the Chinese government is active here in parliament – working with a member of parliament – apparently overseeing the procedures here.” to spoil”.
He said, “How can a foreign, autocratic and despicable power, bent on bringing many people into poverty, put someone in this mother of Parliament and that person has done nothing with them except not allowed in Parliament. done,” he asked.
The UFWD identifies and develops individuals to promote the agenda of the CCP. UFWSD actors are known to engage in political interference activity that deceives, corrupts or coerces politicians and high-profile individuals to make statements or act in support of the CCP and silence voices that criticize the CCP. try to do.
Christine Ching Kui Took Gardiner’s office has long been financed through his law firm Christine Lee & Company, which has offices in London and Birmingham and also serves as chief legal advisor to the Chinese Embassy in London. Gardiner has also been employing Lee’s son, Daniel Wilkes, in his Westminster office, but Wilkes resigned on Thursday.
Gardiner represents Brent North, an area with a large Indian diaspora, and has been very popular with the Indian diaspora in Britain. He was awarded the Padma Shri in January 2020.
Britain’s security service MI5 issued a blistering warning to lawmakers on Thursday, saying that Chinese national Christine Ching cui li “Deliberately engaging in political interference activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China. Li has acted covertly in coordination with the UFWD and is presumed to have been involved in political interference activities in the UK”.
MI5 warned that the UFWD is trying to “secretly interfere in UK politics by establishing ties with established and aspiring parliamentarians across the political spectrum” to ensure that the UK political landscape is “consistent with the agenda of the CCP”. ” Is. The Mail said that Lee has been involved in “facilitating financial donations” to political parties, MPs and aspiring MPs, and individuals seeking political office in the UK.
This news has shocked the entire Indian community in Britain. There is no evidence that Gardiner knew she was a spy. Gardiner said in a statement: “I have been in contact with our security services for many years regarding Christine Lee and they have always been aware of her association with my office and the donations made to the fund, and I have been fully informed. Researchers in my office in the past. I have been assured by Security Services that although they have definitively identified inappropriate funding channeled through Christine Lee, it will be more than any funding received by my office Not related. Christine Lee’s son volunteered in my office for several years before and was later hired by me as a diary manager. He resigned from my employment earlier today.”
community leader Harendra Jodha Said: “These are legislators. Their staff should be properly screened because it is a matter of national security. Barry Gardiner must now come forward and tell all the facts. This is worrying because he was awarded the Padma Shri.” We need to know whether he was involved in policy-making with respect to India.”
Another source in the Indian community who knew Gardiner said: “When he was shadow secretary of state for international trade, he often traveled to China. He may have picked up on these contacts. Haven’t even gone to accept. Despite receiving Padma Shri he received letters requesting to accept. Government of India gave him Padma Shri for his work with Indian community and Gujarati community. Till now he has succumbed to covid citing refused to go to Delhi to accept it. The Indian government would not have known about this. If it is indeed true, that they had a Chinese agent working, then it has to do with their Indian community. There will be a detrimental effect on relations. There is a tense situation in India with China. If British parliamentarians with an Indian majority are close to the Chinese government, it is not welcome at all.”
Sir in the House of Commons on Thursday Ian Duncan SmithThe former leader of the Conservative Party said he had received an email from the speaker informing him that “an agent of the Chinese government is active here in parliament – working with a member of parliament – apparently overseeing the procedures here.” to spoil”.
He said, “How can a foreign, autocratic and despicable power, bent on bringing many people into poverty, put someone in this mother of Parliament and that person has done nothing with them except not allowed in Parliament. done,” he asked.
The UFWD identifies and develops individuals to promote the agenda of the CCP. UFWSD actors are known to engage in political interference activity that deceives, corrupts or coerces politicians and high-profile individuals to make statements or act in support of the CCP and silence voices that criticize the CCP. try to do.
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